Html editing operations

ABSTRACT

Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for html editing operation. The embodiment may include monitoring on a display of a device to detect an input box to receive input data of an expected data type and format. The embodiment may also include, in response to detecting an input box displayed in a first view, determining the expected data type and format of input data for the input box. The embodiment may further include analysing data displayed in a second view to identify data matching the expected data type and format of input data for the input box, wherein the second view is displayed subsequent to the first view. The embodiment may also include automatically selecting the identified data for copying from the second view to the input box in the first view as part of a copy and paste operation of the device.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to HTML editing operations.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a computer implementedmethod is provided. User navigation of views on a display of a device ismonitored to detect an input box to receive input data of an expecteddata type and format. In response to detecting an input box displayed ina first view, the expected data type and format of input data for theinput box is determined. Data displayed in a second view is analyzed toidentify data matching the expected data type and format of input datafor the input box in the first view, wherein the second view isdisplayed subsequent to the first view. In response to identifying datain the second view matching the expected data type and format of inputdata for the input box in the first view, the identified data isautomatically selected for copying from the second view to the input boxin the first view as part of a copy and paste operation of the device.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a device isprovided. The device comprises a processor, data storage and a display.The processor is configured to monitor, on the display, user navigationof views to detect an input box to receive input data of an expecteddata type and format. In response to detecting an input box displayed ina first view, the processor is configured to determine the expected datatype and format of input data for the input box. The processor isfurther configured to analyze data displayed in a second view, toidentify data matching the expected data type and format of input datafor the input box in the first view, wherein the second view isdisplayed subsequent to the first view. In response to identifying datain the second view matching the expected data type and format of inputdata for the input box in the first view, the processor is configured toautomatically select the identified data for copying from the secondview to the input box in the first view as part of a copy and pasteoperation of the device.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a computerprogram product is provided. The computer program product comprises acomputer readable storage medium having program instructions embodiedtherewith. The program instructions are executable by a processor tocause the processor to: monitor, on a display of a device, usernavigation of views to detect an input box to receive input data of anexpected data type and format; determine the expected data type andformat of input data for the input box, in response to detecting aninput box displayed in a first view; analyze data displayed in a secondview, to identify data matching the expected data type and format ofinput data for the input box in the first view, wherein the second viewis displayed subsequent to the first view, and automatically select theidentified data for copying from the second view to the input box in thefirst view as part of a copy and paste operation of the device, inresponse to identifying data in the second view matching the expecteddata type and format of input data for the input box in the first view.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Example implementations of the present disclosure will be describedbelow with reference to the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of example system including a device inaccordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method for a copy and paste operation inaccordance with an example implementation of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2A is a flowchart of a method for determining expected data for aninput box in accordance with example implementations of the presentdisclosure;

FIGS. 3A-3E are schematic screenshots showing an example copy and pasteoperation using the method of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method for a copy and paste operation inaccordance with another example implementation of the presentdisclosure;

FIGS. 5A-5C are schematic screenshots showing an example copy and pasteoperation using the method of FIGS. 4, and

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a system including a device in accordancewith example implementations of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 depicts a cloud computing environment according to an embodimentof the present invention; and

FIG. 8 depicts abstraction model layers according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

User computing devices, such as desktops, laptops, smart phones andtablets, typically provide a user copy and paste function for a user toperform a copy and paste operation. When performing a copy and pasteoperation, the user selects a portion of displayed data (e.g., text orsimilar displayed content) from a view on the display of the device andcopies the selected data over into a part of another view. Accordingly,the copy and paste operation enables the user to share and utilize thesame data for different purposes and tasks, without the need to reenterthe data each time, thereby saving the user time and effort.

A copy and paste operation involves multiple user actions (e.g.,gestures on a touchscreen or operations of an input device such as amouse). For example, a typical copy and paste operation for atouchscreen device is performed as follows:

-   -   (i) The user performs a selection gesture (such as a “touch and        hold” or “tap” gesture) on a touchscreen displaying a view with        the data to be copied, to initiate a selection of data for the        copy and paste operation. The touchscreen senses the location of        the gesture and the system highlights a “default selection” of        data associated with the sensed location. The amount of data        (e.g., number of characters), and its position relative to the        location of the gesture, is predefined for the default        selection, as discussed further below.    -   (ii) The user optionally performs gestures to control a        displayed selection refinement tool to manually refine the        highlighted data to select the precise data to be copied. The        system highlights the manually “refined selection”.    -   (iii) The user performs a copy gesture (such as a “touch”        gesture on a copy icon on the display). The system copies the        selected data to a clipboard (e.g., to cache memory).    -   (iv) The user navigates to the view displaying the location for        pasting the copied data.    -   (v) The user performs a pointing gesture (such as a “touch and        hold” or “tap” gesture) to select a location in the view for        pasting the copied data. The system highlights the location to        the user (such as by displaying a cursor).    -   (vi) The user performs a paste gesture (such as a “touch”        gesture on a paste icon on the menu bar). The system pastes the        selected data from the clipboard to the selected location.

As the skilled person will appreciate, when a copy and paste operationis performed by a user with an input device other than a touchscreen,the above described “gestures” in steps (i) to (vi) are insteadperformed by means of user actions such as “click” and “double click”,keyboard shortcut or voice-controlled operations and the like, as wellknown in the art.

The predefined “default selection” of data to be copied in step (i) isidentified from the code for the displayed view associated with theselected location. In some implementations, the default selection isdefined as the string of characters positioned between specialcharacters (such as “I” and “−”) that includes the character at thelocation of the user gesture. However, the default selection isfrequently inefficient. For instance, in some cases, the data to beselected may itself include special characters, so that only part of thedesired data will be selected by default. For example, the desired datamay be a telephone number displayed as “020-123-4567”. In this case, ifthe user gesture is at the location of the character “3” the defaultselection will be 123″, which is only part of the telephone number. Inother implementations, the default selection is defined as a text stringof characters positioned between spaces, so that a single word isselected by default. However, the user may wish to select one or moresentences of text rather than a single word of text. Accordingly, theuser frequently has to use the selection refinement tool and/oradditional user gestures to manually refine the automatic defaultselection. However, a selection refinement tool is awkward to use, andadditional gestures are time consuming, which is inconvenient to theuser.

One common use of the copy and paste operation is to copy data from afirst view on the screen into an “input box” when completing a form in asecond view, for instance in a mobile or web browser or a mobile or webapplication, where the completed form is to be saved or sent to anotherdevice (e.g., server). For example, a web page shown in a browser mayinclude an input box as part of an HTML form to be completed by the useras a “registration” or “sign in” screen to be sent to a server. Such aninput box is associated with an expected type and format of data to beinput by the user. The expected type and format of input data for aninput box is specified by data (herein referred to as “element data”) inthe HTML code associated with the input box. In particular, the elementdata for an input box may include HTML input attributes that defineexpected input data type (e.g., text, number, email, telephone number,URL) and input/format restrictions (e.g., max/min character length).However, as described above, the default selection of data in the firstview may not be consistent with the expected data type and format for aparticular input box in the second view.

The present disclosure concerns the “smart selection” of data displayedin a view on the display of a device for copying, in order to provide amore efficient and user-friendly technique for a user to utilize a copyand paste operation to input data into an input box in another view ofthe device.

The present disclosure provides methods, systems and computer programproducts for improved selection of data for a copy and paste operation.In particular, whilst navigating views on the display screen of adevice, a user may interact with a view having an input box forreceiving input data. The user may wish to complete the input box usinga copy and paste operation instead of directly inserting data into theinput box using a keyboard or the like. Example implementations of thepresent disclosure facilitate the copy and paste operation byautomatically selecting, from a subsequently displayed view with whichthe user interacts, data of the expected type and format for the inputbox. Thus, when a user navigates between different view on the displayscreen of a device to perform a copy and paste operation in order tocomplete an input box, data of the expected type and format isautomatically selected as part of a “smart selection” function.

In the following description, the term “view” refers to an instance of agraphical user interface or screen actively shown on the display of adevice. For example, a view may be a page, document, tab, frame, windowor the like of a mobile/web browser, mobile/web application or systemlevel application or the like of the device. The term “input box” refersto a view displayed on a device for receiving input data. Typically, theinput data is input by the user for storage and/or transmission over anetwork. For example, an input box may be an HTML form of a view (e.g.,webpage or other user interface) displayed in a mobile/web browser orother mobile/web application of a device. However, the other types ofinput box are possible and contemplated by the present disclosure.Unless otherwise specified, references to the selection of “data”include selection of content (e.g., text) displayed in a view (e.g., byhighlighting in the view) and the selection of corresponding data storedin memory.

FIG. 1 shows an example system in accordance with the presentdisclosure. In particular, system 100 includes a user device 110configured for data communication with servers 120 over a network 130.For example, device 110 may be a smart phone, tablet, laptop or similarportable computing device. Alternatively, device 110 may be a desktopcomputer or similar non-portable computing device. Servers 120 may beweb servers, app servers, SMS servers or any other type of server fordata communication to and from device 110.

User device 110 comprises one or more processors 112 for processingdata, a data storage 114 for storing data, a communications unit 114 forthe communication of data to and from servers 120 over network 130 and adisplay 118. Other features of device 110, such as a power source,camera, accelerometer, are omitted for ease of understanding of thepresent disclosure.

Data storage 114 stores data and program instructions for processing byprocessors 112 for operation of the device 110. These include operatingsystem 140, system applications 150 and user applications 160, as wellknown in the art. In addition, data storage 114 may store system data170 such as device data, user data and the like.

Display 118 provides a user interface for displaying content in the formof “views” to the user. In some example implementation, display 118comprises a touchscreen. As well known in the art, a touchscreen enablesa user to control the device 110 by means of gestures that contact, andare sensed by, the touchscreen. These include gestures that interactwith a displayed graphical user interface (e.g., menu bar, icons,keyboard etc.,) to allow the user to input data and commands into thedevice. In other example implementations, a user may control the device110 by means of other user input devices such as a mouse or touchpad, aswell known in the art.

User device 110 includes user tools 180, which provide user functionsand operations to assist user control and input of data. In particular,user tools 180 include a copy and paste function 182 comprising selectfunction 184, copy function 86 and paste function 188. Copy and pastefunction 182 enables a user to perform a copy and paste operation,comprising copying selected content from one view and pasting it intoanother view, as described above. In the illustrated implementation, thecopy and paste function 182 is provided within the operating system 140,and, as such, is available to the user irrespective of the application(e.g., mobile or web application/browser or system application)displaying the user view. In other implementations, the copy and pastefunction 182 may be provided as part of one or more system applications150 or one or more user applications 160. Select function 184 implementsa predefined default selection of data for a view based on the locationof a user gesture that initiates a selection of data for the copy andpaste operation (herein also referred to as a “selection trigger”), asdescribed above.

Aspects of the present disclosure improve the copy and paste function182 of the device 110 of FIG. 1. In particular, aspects of the presentdisclosure provide a “smart selection” of data, as an extension of the“default selection” of data by select function 184 of FIG. 1, asdescribed further below.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method 200 for a copy and paste operation inaccordance with an example implementation of the present disclosure. Inparticular, the method 200 provides a “smart selection” of data, whichmay be used in addition to the above described “default selection” ofdata, for completing an input box in a view of a user device.

The method 200 starts at step 205. For example, the method 200 may startwhen a user switches on a device or launches certain system or userapplications.

At step 210, the method monitors views navigated by the user for aninput box. In particular, step 210 examines the code associated withviews of system and user applications displayed to the user for an inputbox, such as an HTML form. In the illustrated example implementation,step 210 is performed continuously to locate input boxes, and thusconcurrently with the subsequent steps of the method 200, as describedbelow.

Step 220 determines whether the user has interacted with an input box ina displayed (herein “first”) view. Step 220 may be performedperiodically or in response to the identification of an input box atstep 210. Step 220 may determine that the user has interacted with aninput box in response to a user gesture (e.g., “tap” gesture) orequivalent user action (e.g., “hover” or “mouseover” action) associatedwith the input box. Alternatively, step 220 may infer that the user hasinteracted with an input box based on the amount of time that the inputbox is displayed to the user. Thus, for example, user interaction withan input box may be inferred if the user pauses for a predeterminedamount of time to display the input box at the center of the view ratherthan scrolling past the input box without pausing. If step 220determines that the user has interacted with an input box, the methodproceeds to step 230. Otherwise, the method returns to step 210.

Step 230 determines the expected data for the input box in the firstview. In the example implementation of the method 200 of FIG. 2, step230 comprises a series of sub-steps 232 to 236 as shown in FIG. 2A,which together determine and save information relating to the expectedtype and format of input data for the input box. As the skilled personwill appreciate, other techniques for determining the expected data forthe input box in step 230 are possible and contemplated by the presentdisclosure.

In particular, referring to FIG. 2A, at step 232, the method identifieselement data associated with the detected input box. For example, step232 analyzes the code associated with the input box to identify defineddata relating to the expected data to be input, such as the type of dataand its format. Element data, such as attributes, parameters, values,requirements and restrictions, may include: input label name, inputfield tag name and autocomplete tag; input type attributes that specifyinput data type (which may include format), such as text, number, email,tel, and url, and other data that specify input data restrictions, suchas max/min character length. Other types of data relating to theexpected data to be input in an input box, which may be identified aselement data, will be apparent to the skilled person.

At step 234, the method determines the expected data type and format ofinput data for the input box based on the element data identified instep 232. At step 236, the method saves the determines expected datatype and format of input data for the input box, together with anidentifier of the input box. In particular, an identifier for the inputbox may be generated at either step 220 or 230, for example, based on anindex number of the first view, which may be saved in step 234.Typically, step 236 saves the data in memory, such as cache memory,which automatically overwrites and/or deletes data based on its age,prior consumption or other factors that determine whether continuedstorage of the data is required. The method then proceeds to step 240.

Returning to FIG. 2, as the user navigates to a second view (bynavigating views by concurrent step 210), step 240 monitors for aselection trigger to initiate a selection for a copy and pasteoperation. As described previously, a selection trigger is typically apredefined gesture, such as a “touch and hold” gesture, a “tap” gestureor a predefined user action, such as a “click” action, that leads to adefault selection of data based on the location of the gesture or actionin the view (e.g., data between special characters) as described above.Typically, the default selection is highlighted in the second viewdisplayed to the user.

Step 245 determines whether a selection trigger is detected. If aselection trigger is detected, the method proceeds to step 250.Otherwise, the method returns to step 240 and continues to monitor for aselection trigger.

At step 250, the method compares the default selection in response tothe selection trigger with the expected data for the input box, asdetermined in step 230. In particular, the default selection may becompared with the expected type and format of input data for the inputbox, as determined in step 234. At step 255, the method determineswhether the data for the default selection matches the expected data forthe input box. For example, step 255 compares the data corresponding tothe default selection to each of the element data attributes, values,parameters, requirements and restrictions for the expected data, todetermine whether the data conforms to the expected data type andformat. If step 255 determines that the default selection matches theexpected data for the input box, the method proceeds to step 260.

Step 260 maintains the default selection in response to the selectiontrigger as the selected data for a subsequent copy and paste operation.Accordingly, when the selected default data matches the expected data,and, in particular, conforms to the expected data type and format ofinput data for the input box, no refinement of the selection by the useris required. The method may then wait for a copy command, for example bya user gesture or action on a copy icon, to copy the default selectionto a clipboard (not shown) or may automatically copy the selection (notshown). The method then proceeds to step 280.

If step 255 determines that the default selection does not match theexpected data, the method proceeds to step 270. In particular, inaccordance with conventional techniques, refinement of the selection bythe user would be required so that the selected data matches theexpected data for the input box. In accordance with the illustratedexample implementation, step 270 automatically overrides the defaultselection in response to the selection trigger with a selection thatcorresponds to the expected data for the input box. In particular, step270 identifies data in the second view that matches the expected datafor the input box.

In most scenarios, the user gesture or action indicates the generallocation of the desired data, which that matches the expected data, andso step 270 merely considers and analyzes the code for displayed data(e.g., text) in the vicinity of the data displayed at the location ofthe user gesture for a match. In this case, various techniques may beused to identify matching data. For example, step 270 may analyze andidentify potentially matching data (e.g., characters) preceding andfollowing the default selection, whilst ignoring any special characters,until it encounters non-matching data (e.g., anunexpected/non-conforming character). In another example, step 270 mayanalyze and identify a predefined amount of data (e.g., number ofcharacters) surrounding the default selection. Step 270 may then comparethe identified data surrounding the default selection for a match to theexpected data. However, in some scenarios, the user gesture or actionmay indicate an incorrect location in the second view. In this case step270 may consider and analyze the code for displayed data anywhere in thesecond view for a match to the expected data for the input box, usingany suitable technique.

Thus, step 270 performs a “smart selection” of data that matches theexpected data for the input box, and, in particular, matches theexpected data type and format of input data for the input box, andoverrides the “default selection” of data with a refined selection,which is highlighted in the second view. The method may then wait for acopy command, for example by a user gesture or action on a copy icon, tocopy the refined selection to a clipboard (not shown) or mayautomatically copy the selection (not shown). The method then proceedsto step 280.

At step 280, the method monitors for user navigation back to the inputbox in the first view and a paste command, for example by means of apredetermined paste gesture or action. In particular, step 280 uses theidentifier for the input box, which was generated and saved in step 230,to determine whether the user has navigated back to the input box. Step285 determines whether a paste command is detected in the input box. Forexample, a paste command may be detected from a user pointing gesture oraction (e.g., a “tap” “touch and hold” gesture or “click” action) at alocation within the input box, optionally followed by a paste gesture oraction (e.g., a “touch” gesture or “click” action on a displayed pasteicon). If step 285 does not detect a paste command, the method returnsto step 280. If step 285 detects a paste command, the method proceeds to290, which pastes the selected data into the input box in the firstview. The method then ends at step 295.

In some example implementations, steps 240 and 245, comprisingmonitoring for a selection trigger and determining whether a selectiontrigger is detected, may be performed continuously or periodically, aslong as the view containing the input box remains active (i.e., notclosed by the user) or the expected data remains saved in memory (e.g.,cache memory). In other example implementations, steps 240 and 245 maybe performed for a predetermined time interval or number of viewsnavigated by the user. Similarly, steps 280 and 285 of monitoring fornavigation back to the input box in the first view and a paste command,may be performed continuously or periodically, or for a predeterminedtime interval or number of views navigated by the user. Implementationof monitoring for a selection trigger, copy command and paste commandmay be chosen according to vendor, application and/or user requirements,and may be chosen based on available processing, memory and powerresources. Furthermore, some implementation may provide for userconfiguration of settings that control the monitoring for a selectiontrigger, copy command and paste command (e.g., by setting a timeinterval or otherwise).

In some implementations, step 290 of pasting the selected data in theinput box may be performed automatically in response to the usernavigation back to the first view. In this case, monitoring for a pastecommand is not required and step 285 may be omitted.

FIGS. 3A-E are screenshots showing illustrative views navigated by auser of a device comprising a touchscreen display in accordance with anexample copy and paste operation using the method of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3A shows a first view displayed to the user on a touchscreendisplay of the device. The first view (herein “view 1”) comprises aregistration form 300 entitled “XYX Membership Registration Form” forregistering to use the user application “XYZ”. In the illustratedexample, the registration form 300 comprises an HTML form having aplurality of HTML form elements including a “Name” input element 310, a“Phone Number” input element 320 and a “Register” button element 230. Inthe view shown in FIG. 3A, “Name” input element 310 is an input box thathas been populated with the user's name “Jane Doe”. As the skilledperson will appreciate, population of input element 310 may have beenperformed automatically, for example by an application or systemfunction such as “autofill” and “autocomplete”, or manually by the user.“Phone Number” input element 320 is an empty input box for the user toinsert a valid telephone number. “Register” button element 330 is anelement that allows the user to send the completed registration form tothe XYZ application server. As described above, the user has the optionto manually insert a phone number in input box 320 or to copy and pastethe telephone number from another view. In a scenario of the illustratedexample, the user has recently signed up to a new telephone service.Since it is newly assigned, the user cannot remember the new telephonenumber. However, the user remembers that the new telephone number isspecified in an email message received from the service provider, whichcan be found in the inbox of the user's email application. Thus, theuser decides to copy and paste the telephone number into the input boxfrom the email message.

Accordingly, whilst the user is viewing “view 1” shown in FIG. 3A, themethod 200 of FIG. 2 performs the following steps. Step 210 identifiesthat “view 1” has an input box for input data (i.e., input element 320),and step 220 determines that the user has interacted with the input box.Step 230 generates an identifier for the input box in the first view,identifies element data in the code associated with the input box (step232), determines the expected data type and format of input data for theinput box from the metadata (step 234), and stores the expected datatype and format together with the identifier in cache memory (step 236).In the present example, the expected data type and format corresponds toa valid telephone number. Thus, the element data associated with theinput box (as defined in the HTML code for input element 320) includethe input field name (i.e., “Phone Number”, which may also be theindicated in a “placeholder” attribute) and one or more attributes,parameters and values specifying the input data type and format (i.e.,input type attributes such as “number” or “tel” (if supported)) andrestrictions on the input data (i.e. size input attributes with max andmin values) consistent with of a valid telephone number comprising 10(ten) numerical characters. Step 240 then monitors subsequent usernavigation of views for a “selection trigger” in a second view, asdescribed below.

After viewing “view 1”, the user launches the email application andnavigates to a second view in the inbox of the email application. Thesecond view displays the email message that includes the new telephonenumber “020-123-4567”). FIG. 3B shows the second view (herein “view 2”)comprising an email message 350 with the telephone number 360 displayedon the touchscreen of the mobile device. Whilst viewing “view 2”, theuser performs a “selection trigger” gesture to initiate a selection ofdata for the copy and paste operation (e.g., a “tap and hold” of “touch”gesture) at a location X (see FIGS. 3C and 3D) on the touchscreen.Location X corresponds to the digit “3” in the telephone number“020-123-4567”). In response to the user's gesture at location X, step245 detects a selection trigger, step 250 compares the default selectionthe location X with the expected data type and format of input data forthe input box stored in cache memory in step 236, and step 255determines whether the default selection matches the expected data typeand format.

FIG. 3C shows “view 2”, following the user's “selection trigger”gesture, displaying a “default selection” for a conventional copyfunction based on the location X. In particular, since the location Xcorresponds to the digit “3” in the telephone number “020-123-4567”, thenumeric character string “123” is selected by default, since thecharacter string “123” corresponds to the group of characters that liesbetween the special characters “−” and includes the digit “3”.Accordingly, since the expected data for the input box in the presentexample is for ten numeric characters corresponding to a valid telephonenumber, step 255 determines that the default selection does not matchthe expected data type and format. Thus, step 270 considers and analyzesthe code surrounding the “default selection” for displayed data matchingthe expected data type and format. As described above, step 270 mayanalyze and identify potentially matching data (e.g., characters)preceding and following the default selection, whilst ignoring anyspecial characters, until it encounters non-matching data (e.g., anunexpected/non-conforming character). In another example, step 270 mayanalyze and identify a predefined amount of data (e.g., number ofcharacters) preceding and following the default selection. Step 270 maythen compare the identified data surrounding the default selection for amatch to the expected data. In the illustrated example, step 270identifies the numeric character string “020” preceding the defaultselection “123” and the numeric character string “4567” following thedefault selection, and determines that the identified string of tennumeric characters “0201234567” matches the expected data type andformat of input data for the input box. Thus, step 270 overrides the“default selection” with a “smart selection” of the identified string ofnumeric characters “0201234567” that matches the expected data type andformat of input data for the input box.

FIG. 3D shows “view 2”, following the user's selection trigger gesture,displaying the “smart selection” based on the location X, in accordancewith the present disclosure. In the illustrated example, as well asdisplaying the “smart selection”, the user is offered the option to copythe selected data by a copy icon 370, displayed in a bottom menu bar of“view 2”. Thus, instead of having to use a selection refinement tool toadjust the “default selection” shown in FIG. 3C, the user isautomatically presented with the “smart selection” shown in FIG. 3D.Accordingly, the user can immediately perform a copy gesture (e.g., a“touch” gesture on the copy icon 370) to copy the selection of thecorrect data, in this case the full telephone number, to a clipboard,before navigating back to the input box in “view 1” as shown in FIG. 3E.In particular, step 280 determines when the user navigates back to theinput box in “view 1” and, in the present example, displays a paste icon380 in the bottom menu bar, step 285 detects a paste gesture by the user(e.g., a “touch” gesture on the paste icon 380) and the copied telephonenumber is inserted or “pasted” into the input box 320 as shown by dashedoutline in FIG. 3E.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method 400 in accordance with another exampleimplementation of the present disclosure. The method 400 of FIG. 4 is amodification of the method 200 of FIG. 2. In particular, method 400attempts to perform a “smart selection” from views navigated by a userafter interacting with an input box without the user performing aselection trigger gesture to initiate a selection for a copy and pasteoperation.

The method 400 starts at step 405. For example, the method 400 may startwhen a user switches on a device or launches certain system or userapplications.

At step 410, the method monitors views navigated by the user for aninput box. In particular, step 410 examines the code associated withactive views of system and user applications displayed to the user foran input box, such as an HTML form. In the illustrated exampleimplementations, step 410 is performed continuously to locate inputboxes, and thus concurrently with the subsequent steps of the method400, as described below.

Step 420 determines whether the user has interacted with an input box ina displayed (herein “first”) view. Step 420 may be performedperiodically or in response to the identification of an input box atstep 410. Step 420 may determine that the user has interacted with aninput box in response to a user gesture (e.g., “tap” gesture) orequivalent user action (e.g., “hover” or “mouseover” action) associatedwith the input box. Alternatively, step 420 may infer that the user hasinteracted with an input box based on the amount of time that the inputbox is displayed to the user or otherwise, as described above inrelation to step 220 of the method 200 of FIG. 2. If step 420 determinesthat the user has interacted with an input box, the method proceeds tostep 430. Otherwise, the method returns to step 410.

Step 430 determines the expected data for the input box in the firstview. In the method 400 of FIG. 4, step 430 comprises a series ofsub-steps corresponding to steps 232 to 236 of step 230 of the method200 of FIG. 2 shown in FIG. 2A as described above, which togetherdetermine and save information relating to the expected type and formatof input data for the input box. As the skilled person will appreciate,other techniques for determining the expected data for the input box instep 430 are possible and contemplated by the present disclosure. Themethod then proceeds to step 440.

At step 440, the method considers whether the user has navigated to asecond view. A second view may be defined as a subsequently displayedview that is potentially relevant for the copy and paste operation,which may be determined based on a number of factors. For example, asubsequent view may be considered to be potentially relevant if it isdisplayed to user within a predetermined amount of time or number ofviews navigated through since navigating away from the view containingthe input box. As another example, a subsequent view may be consideredto be potentially relevant if it is interacted with by the user, asdescribed above. In particular, when wishing to complete an input box ina particular view, a user typically immediately starts to navigate toanother known view containing the relevant data for copying and pastinginto the input box. Such navigation may involve navigating to an alreadyactive view or may require launching an application and/or navigatingthrough several views in an application, without significant interactionsuch as pausing, to locate the correct view. Thus, a subsequent viewnavigated to, and interacted with, by the user within an interval (e.g.,time interval or number of navigated views) after navigating away fromthe view containing the input box is likely to be potentially relevant.In other examples, another view may be considered to be potentiallyrelevant based on the type of view and/or user application and itsrelevance to the expected data type of input data from the input box.Other factors for determining whether another view is potentiallyrelevant are possible and contemplated by the present disclosure. Insome implementations, all subsequently displayed views navigated by theuser may be considered to be a potentially relevant second view.

If step 440 determines that the user has navigated to a second view, themethod proceeds to step 450. Otherwise, the method returns to step 440.

At step 450, the method analyzes data in the second view to identifydata (e.g., text or other content) matching the expected data for theinput box, as determined in step 430. In particular, data in the secondview may be compared with the expected type and format of input data forthe input box, as determined in step 234. For example, step 440 examinescode (e.g., HTML code) of the second view, and compares the type andformat of the displayed data with the expected data type and format ofinput data for the input box. Step 450 may be performed continuously,periodically or otherwise, as the user navigates the second view. Step455 considers whether data matching the expected data type and format ofinput data for the input box is identified. If step 450 determines thata match is identified, the method proceeds to step 460. Otherwise, themethod returns to step 450 and continues to analyze the second view,and/or subsequently displayed potentially relevant views, navigated bythe user.

At step 460, the method selects the identified data from the second viewthat matches the expected data for the input box. In exampleimplementations, the selection may be automatically displayed to theuser, for example by highlighting the selected data in the displayedview. In the case that multiple matches are found in the second view,each of the selections may be uniquely highlighted (e.g., indexed by aletter, number or color code) as different selection options availablefor the user to choose to select for a copy and paste operation.

At step 465, the method considers whether a copy command is detected,for example by means of a copy gesture or action (e.g., a “touch”gesture of “click” action on a copy icon). In the case that multiplematches are found in the second view, a copy icon may be provided foreach of the available selection options. If step 465 detects a copycommand, the method copies the corresponding selection to a clipboard(not shown) and proceeds to step 470. Otherwise, the method returns tostep 465.

At step 470, the method monitors for user navigation back to the inputbox in the first view and a paste command, for example by means of apredetermined paste gesture or action. In particular, step 470 uses theidentifier for the input box, which was generated and saved in step 430,to determine whether the user has navigated back to the input box. Step475 determines whether a paste command is detected in the input box. Forexample, a paste command may comprise a user gesture or action (e.g., a“tap” or “touch and hold” gesture or “click” action) at a locationwithin the input box, optionally followed by a paste gesture or action(e.g., a “touch” gesture or “click” action on a displayed paste icon).If step 475 does not detect a paste command, the method returns to step470. If step 475 detects a paste command, the method proceeds to 480,which pastes the selected data into the input box in the first view. Themethod then ends at step 485.

FIG. 5A-C are screenshots showing illustrative views navigated by a userof a device comprising a touchscreen display in accordance with anexample copy and paste operation using the method of FIG. 4.

FIG. 5A shows a first view displayed to the user on a touchscreen of thedevice. The first view (herein “view 1”) comprises a “sign in” form 500entitled “ABC Sign In” for allowing a customer of ABC supplier to signin to their online account using the user application “ABC”. In theillustrated example, the sign in form 500 comprises an HTML form havinga plurality of HTML form elements, including a “Name” input element 510,a “Passcode” input element 520 and a “Next” button element 530. In theview shown in FIG. 5A, “Name” input element 510 is an input box that hasbeen populated with the user's name “Jane Doe”. As the skilled personwill appreciate, population of input element 510 may have been performedmanually or automatically, as described above. “Passcode” input element520 is an empty input box for the user to insert a valid passcode. “Signin” button element 530 is an element that allows the user to send thecompleted registration form to the ABC application server. As describedabove, the user has the option to manually insert his or her passcode ininput box 520 or to copy and paste the passcode from another view. In ascenario of the illustrated example, the user has forgotten his or herpasscode and has requested a new temporary passcode to be sent by SMSmessage.

According, whilst the user is viewing “view 1” shown in FIG. 5A, themethod 400 of FIG. 4 performs the following steps. Step 410 identifiesthat “view 1” has an input box for input data (i.e., input element 520),and step 420 determines that the user has interacted with the input box.Step 430 generates an identifier for the input box in the first view,identifies element data in the code associated with the input box (step232), determines the expected data type and format of input data for theinput box from the element data (step 234), and stores the expected datatype and format together with the identifier for the input box in cachememory (step 236). In the present example, the expected data type andformat may correspond to a valid passcode, which may between 8 and 12characters long, include at least one number and at least one capitalletter. Thus, the element data associated with the input box (as definedin the HTML code for input element 520) specify one or more attributes,parameters, values, requirements and restrictions for the type andformat of a valid passcode, such as a restriction to the length range(e.g., defined by max and min size attributes) and so on.

After viewing “view 1”, the user navigates to a second view of therelevant SMS message 540 in the SMS system application of the device asshown in FIG. 5B. The second view (herein “view 2”) displays the SMSmessage 540 that includes the new temporary passcode 550 comprising thecharacter string “x9y8z7ABC”. Whilst viewing “view 2”, step 440 of themethod 400 determines that the user has navigated to a second view.Accordingly, step 450 analyzes the data displayed in the second view fordata matching the expected data type and format of input data for theinput box, step 455 identifies that the passcode 550 is a match and step460 selects the character string “x9y8z7ABC”. Notably, in this example,step 450 may identify data matching the expected data for the input box(i.e., input element 520) in the body of the SMS message 540 in “view 2”when it matches the length range and other attributes, parameters,values, requirements and restrictions of the input data for the inputbox. In addition, or alternatively, step 450 may identify the matchingdata based on the presence of the word “passcode” in the SMS message540, which corresponds to the input label name attribute of inputelement 520. Step 460 highlights the identified selection as shown bythe dashed outline in FIG. 5B. In addition, a copy icon 560 is displayedin the menu bar. Thus, whilst pausing at “view 2”, the user isautomatically presented with a “smart selection” corresponding to therequired passcode, and can immediately perform a copy gesture (e.g., a“touch” gesture on the copy icon 560) to copy the selection of thecorrect data, in this case the passcode, to a clipboard.

Step 465 detects a copy command and step 470 monitors for usernavigation back to the input box in “view 1” as shown in FIG. 5C. Inparticular, step 470 determines when the user navigates back to theinput box in “view 1” and, in the present example, displays a paste icon570 in the bottom menu bar, step 475 detects a paste command in responseto a paste gesture by the user (e.g., a “touch” gesture on the pasteicon 570) and the copied passcode is inserted or “pasted” into the inputbox 520 as shown by dashed outline in FIG. 5C.

Whilst FIGS. 3A-E and 5A-C illustrated screenshots of a mobile devicecomprising a touchscreen, such as a smart phone, the skilled person willappreciate that the principles of the present disclosure are applicableto all types of user devices that allow a user to perform a copy andpaste operation. Nevertheless, the present disclosure is particularlybeneficial when implemented in devices having small touchscreens, sincethe selection refinement tools associated with such devices are timeconsuming and awkward to use, as described above.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a system 600 in accordance with exampleimplementations of the present disclosure. In particular, the system 600comprises a user device 610, such as a smart phone, tablet or similarportable computing device. Alternatively, device 610 may be a desktopcomputer or similar non-portable computing device.

User device 610 comprises processing unit 612, data storage unit 614,communications unit 616 and user interface devices 618. User interfacedevices 618 include a display 618A such as a touchscreen. User interfacedevices 618 may also include one or more other user input devices suchas a mouse, touchpad and microphone. Other features of mobile device610, such as a power source, camera, accelerometer, are omitted for easeof understanding of the present disclosure.

Communications unit 616 is configured for connection to a network 630,as described herein, for exchanging messages with servers 620 (e.g., appservers, web servers, SMS and email servers). Network 630 may compriseany suitable wired or wireless data communications network, such as alocal area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN) or the Internet. Insome example implementations, communications unit 616 is configured forconnection to more than one network.

Data storage unit 614 stores instructions executable by processing unit612 for operating the mobile device 610. In particular, data storageunit 614 includes an operating system (OS) 640, and applications 655including system applications 650 and user applications 660. As theskilled person will understand, operating system 640 controls andmanages the operations of the system applications 650 and userapplications 660. Operating system 640 includes processing modules 645for performing common processes and functions for multiple systemapplications 650 and/or user applications 660. In addition, data storageunit 614 stores system data 470, which, in some example implementations,takes the form of a database. System data 670 comprises input datareceived from a user via user interface devices 618 and data andreceived from one or more servers 620 via network 630 and communicationsunit 616. Systems data 670 may be loaded into a cache memory 675associated with processing unit 612 when executing instructions foroperating the user device 610.

Processing modules 645 include user tools for providing user functionscommon to multiple applications 655. In particular, processing modules645 include a copy and paste module 682 for enabling a user to performimproved copy and paste operations as described herein. In particular,in example implementations, copy and paste module 682 comprisesinstructions for performing the method 200 of FIG. 2 and/or the method400 of FIG. 4. Copy and paste module 682 includes a smart selectionmodule 684 for performing a “smart selection” of data for a copy andpaste operation, as described herein. In particular, smart selectionmodule 682 selects, from a second view on display 618A, datacorresponding to an expected data type and format of input data for aninput box in a first view previously displayed on display 618A. Smartselection module 684 uses information relating to the expected inputdata for the input box previously determined and stored in cache memory675, as described herein.

With continuing reference to FIG. 6, a computer program product 690 isprovided. The computer program product 690 includes computer readablemedia 692 having storage media 694 and program instructions 696 (i.e.,program code) embodied therewith. The program instructions 496 areconfigured to be loaded onto data storage unit 614 of mobile device 610,for example as a processing module 645 or application 655 (or partthereof) using one of user interface devices 618 or a device connectedto network 630 via communications unit 616. In example implementations,program instructions 696 are configured as copy and paste module 682and/or smart selection module 684 to perform one of more of the methodsdisclosed herein, such as the method 200 of FIG. 2 and/or the method 400of FIG. 4.

Whilst the present disclosure has been described and illustrated withreference to example implementations, the skilled person will appreciatethat the present disclosure lends itself to many different variationsand modifications not specifically illustrated herein.

The present disclosure encompasses a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product at any possible technical detail level of integration.The computer program product may include a computer readable storagemedium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereonfor causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present disclosure.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of a computerreadable storage medium includes the following: a portable computerdiskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory(ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flashmemory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portable compact discread-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memorystick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such as punch-cardsor raised structures in a groove having instructions recorded thereon,and any suitable combination of the foregoing. A computer readablestorage medium, as used herein, is not to be construed as beingtransitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present disclosure may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, configuration data for integrated circuitry, oreither source code or object code written in any combination of one ormore programming languages, including an obj ect oriented programminglanguage such as Smalltalk, C++, or the like, and procedural programminglanguages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programminglanguages. The computer readable program instructions may executeentirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as astand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partlyon a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. Inthe latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user'scomputer through any type of network, including a local area network(LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to anexternal computer (for example, through the Internet using an InternetService Provider). In some example implementations, electronic circuitryincluding, for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmablegate arrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute thecomputer readable program instructions by utilizing state information ofthe computer readable program instructions to personalize the electroniccircuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present disclosure.

Aspects of the present disclosure are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to exampleimplementations of the disclosure. It will be understood that each blockof the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinationsof blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can beimplemented by computer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousexample implementations of the present disclosure. In this regard, eachblock in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module,segment, or portion of instructions, which comprises one or moreexecutable instructions for implementing the specified logicalfunction(s). In some alternative implementations, the functions noted inthe blocks may occur out of the order noted in the Figures. For example,two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantiallyconcurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverseorder, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be notedthat each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, andcombinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchartillustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-basedsystems that perform the specified functions or acts or carry outcombinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

It is understood in advance that although this disclosure includes adetailed description on cloud computing, implementation of the teachingsrecited herein is not limited to a cloud computing environment. Rather,embodiments of the present invention are capable of being implemented inconjunction with any other type of computing environment now known orlater developed.

Cloud computing is a model of service delivery for enabling convenient,on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computingresources (e.g. networks, network bandwidth, servers, processing,memory, storage, applications, virtual machines, and services) that canbe rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort orinteraction with a provider of the service. This cloud model may includeat least five characteristics, at least three service models, and atleast four deployment models.

Characteristics are as follows:

On-demand self-service: a cloud consumer can unilaterally provisioncomputing capabilities, such as server time and network storage, asneeded automatically without requiring human interaction with theservice's provider.

Broad network access: capabilities are available over a network andaccessed through standard mechanisms that promote use by heterogeneousthin or thick client platforms (e.g., mobile phones, laptops, and PDAs).

Resource pooling: the provider's computing resources are pooled to servemultiple consumers using a multi-tenant model, with different physicaland virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned according todemand. There is a sense of location independence in that the consumergenerally has no control or knowledge over the exact location of theprovided resources but may be able to specify location at a higher levelof abstraction (e.g., country, state, or data center).

Rapid elasticity: capabilities can be rapidly and elasticallyprovisioned, in some cases automatically, to quickly scale out andrapidly released to quickly scale in. To the consumer, the capabilitiesavailable for provisioning often appear to be unlimited and can bepurchased in any quantity at any time.

Measured service: cloud systems automatically control and optimizeresource use by leveraging a metering capability at some level ofabstraction appropriate to the type of service (e.g., storage,processing, bandwidth, and active user accounts). Resource usage can bemonitored, controlled, and reported providing transparency for both theprovider and consumer of the utilized service.

Service Models are as follows:

Software as a Service (SaaS): the capability provided to the consumer isto use the provider's applications running on a cloud infrastructure.The applications are accessible from various client devices through athin client interface such as a web browser (e.g., web-based e-mail).The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloudinfrastructure including network, servers, operating systems, storage,or even individual application capabilities, with the possible exceptionof limited user-specific application configuration settings.

Platform as a Service (PaaS): the capability provided to the consumer isto deploy onto the cloud infrastructure consumer-created or acquiredapplications created using programming languages and tools supported bythe provider. The consumer does not manage or control the underlyingcloud infrastructure including networks, servers, operating systems, orstorage, but has control over the deployed applications and possiblyapplication hosting environment configurations.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): the capability provided to theconsumer is to provision processing, storage, networks, and otherfundamental computing resources where the consumer is able to deploy andrun arbitrary software, which can include operating systems andapplications. The consumer does not manage or control the underlyingcloud infrastructure but has control over operating systems, storage,deployed applications, and possibly limited control of select networkingcomponents (e.g., host firewalls).

Deployment Models are as follows:

Private cloud: the cloud infrastructure is operated solely for anorganization. It may be managed by the organization or a third party andmay exist on-premises or off-premises.

Community cloud: the cloud infrastructure is shared by severalorganizations and supports a specific community that has shared concerns(e.g., mission, security requirements, policy, and complianceconsiderations). It may be managed by the organizations or a third partyand may exist on-premises or off-premises.

Public cloud: the cloud infrastructure is made available to the generalpublic or a large industry group and is owned by an organization sellingcloud services.

Hybrid cloud: the cloud infrastructure is a composition of two or moreclouds (private, community, or public) that remain unique entities butare bound together by standardized or proprietary technology thatenables data and application portability (e.g., cloud bursting forload-balancing between clouds).

A cloud computing environment is a service oriented with a focus onstatelessness, low coupling, modularity, and semantic interoperability.At the heart of cloud computing is an infrastructure comprising anetwork of interconnected nodes.

Referring now to FIG. 7, illustrative cloud computing environment 50 isdepicted. As shown, cloud computing environment 50 comprises one or morecloud computing nodes 10 with which local computing devices used bycloud consumers, such as, for example, personal digital assistant (PDA)or cellular telephone 54A, desktop computer 54B, laptop computer 54C,and/or automobile computer system 54N may communicate. Nodes 100 maycommunicate with one another. They may be grouped (not shown) physicallyor virtually, in one or more networks, such as Private, Community,Public, or Hybrid clouds as described hereinabove, or a combinationthereof. This allows cloud computing environment 50 to offerinfrastructure, platforms and/or software as services for which a cloudconsumer does not need to maintain resources on a local computingdevice. It is understood that the types of computing devices 54A-N shownin FIG. 5 are intended to be illustrative only and that computing nodes100 and cloud computing environment 50 can communicate with any type ofcomputerized device over any type of network and/or network addressableconnection (e.g., using a web browser).

Referring now to FIG. 8, a set of functional abstraction layers 800provided by cloud computing environment 50 is shown. It should beunderstood in advance that the components, layers, and functions shownin FIG. 8 are intended to be illustrative only and embodiments of theinvention are not limited thereto. As depicted, the following layers andcorresponding functions are provided:

Hardware and software layer 60 includes hardware and softwarecomponents. Examples of hardware components include: mainframes 61; RISC(Reduced Instruction Set Computer) architecture based servers 62;servers 63; blade servers 64; storage devices 65; and networks andnetworking components 66. In some embodiments, software componentsinclude network application server software 67 and database software 68.

Virtualization layer 70 provides an abstraction layer from which thefollowing examples of virtual entities may be provided: virtual servers71; virtual storage 72; virtual networks 73, including virtual privatenetworks; virtual applications and operating systems 74; and virtualclients 75.

In one example, management layer 80 may provide the functions describedbelow. Resource provisioning 81 provides dynamic procurement ofcomputing resources and other resources that are utilized to performtasks within the cloud computing environment. Metering and Pricing 82provide cost tracking as resources are utilized within the cloudcomputing environment, and billing or invoicing for consumption of theseresources. In one example, these resources may comprise applicationsoftware licenses. Security provides identity verification for cloudconsumers and tasks, as well as protection for data and other resources.User portal 83 provides access to the cloud computing environment forconsumers and system administrators. Service level management 84provides cloud computing resource allocation and management such thatrequired service levels are met. Service Level Agreement (SLA) planningand fulfilment 85 provide pre-arrangement for, and procurement of, cloudcomputing resources for which a future requirement is anticipated inaccordance with an SLA.

Workloads layer 90 provides examples of functionality for which thecloud computing environment may be utilized. Examples of workloads andfunctions which may be provided from this layer include: mapping andnavigation 91; software development and lifecycle management 92; virtualclassroom education delivery 93; data analytics processing 94;transaction processing 95; and improvement in copy and paste operationsprocessing 96. Improvement in copy and paste operations processing 96may relate to monitoring and detecting an input box to receive inputdata of an expected data type and format.

The descriptions of the various example implementations of the presentdisclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration, but are notintended to be exhaustive or limited to the implementations disclosed.Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinaryskill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of thedescribed implementations. The terminology used herein was chosen tobest explain the principles of the example implementations, thepractical application or technical improvement over technologies foundin the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art tounderstand the implementations disclosed herein.

1. A method comprising: monitoring, on a display of a device, usernavigation of views to detect an input box to receive input data of anexpected data type and format; determining whether the user hasinteracted with the detected input box based on a user gesture, whereinthe user gesture includes interacting with a portion on a touch screenof the device: in response to detecting an input box displayed in afirst view, determining the expected data type and format of input datafor the input box; analyzing data displayed in a second view, toidentify data matching the expected data type and format of input datafor the input box in the first view, wherein the second view isdisplayed subsequent to the first view, wherein analyzing the datadisplayed in a second view is triggered by a predefined user gesturethat comprises a touch and hold gesture and a tap gesture on the touchscreen, and in response to identifying data in the second view matchingthe expected data type and format of input data for the input box in thefirst view, automatically selecting the identified data for copying fromthe second view to the input box in the first view as part of a copy andpaste operation of the device.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereindetermining the expected data type and format of input data for theinput box comprises analyzing the code associated with the input box inthe first view to identify element data for the input data.
 3. Themethod of claim 2, wherein the element data comprises one or morepredefined attributes, parameters, values, requirements and restrictionsfor the input data.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:generating an identifier for the input box, and storing the identifiertogether with the expected type and format of input data for the inputbox in cache memory.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein, in response todetermining the expected data type and format of input data for theinput box, the method further comprises: detecting user input forinitiating a selection function for selecting data for the copy andpaste operation, the user input indicating a location in the secondview, wherein analyzing displayed data in the second view, to identifydata matching the expected data type and format of input data for theinput box, is performed in response to detecting the user input forinitiating the selection function of the device.
 6. The method of claim5, wherein analyzing displayed data in the second view to identify datamatching the expected data type and format of input data for the inputbox comprises: comparing default data selected by the selection functionbased on the indicated location in the second view with the expecteddata type and format of input data for the input box of the first view,wherein each of the element data attribute, values, parameters andrestrictions for the default data is compared.
 7. The method of claim 6,wherein, if the default data selected by the selection function based onthe indicated location in the second view does not match the expecteddata type and format of input data for the input box of the first view,the method further comprises: analyzing data displayed in the secondview in the vicinity of the location of the default data selected by theselection function to identify data matching the expected data type andformat of input data for the input box in the first view, whereinanalyzing data displayed in the second view in the vicinity of thelocation includes identifying matching characters preceding andfollowing the selection and identifying a predefined amount of datasurrounding the selection, and if data matching the expected data typeand format is identified, automatically selecting the identified datainstead of the default data for copying from the second view to theinput box in the first view as part of the copy and paste operation ofthe device.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically selectingthe identified data comprises: highlighting the selected data in thesecond view on the display of the device, the method further comprising:monitoring user navigation back to the input box in first view, and inresponse to user navigation back to the input box in the first view,determining whether a paste command is detected to paste pasting thehighlighted data into the input box of the first view.
 9. The method ofclaim 1, wherein analyzing displayed data in the second view, toidentify data matching the expected data type and format of input datafor the input box, is performed in response to the user navigating tothe second view within a predefined interval after the navigating awayfrom the first view.
 10. A device, comprising a processor, data storageand a display, wherein the processor is configured to: monitor, on thedisplay of the device, user navigation of views to detect an input boxto receive input data of an expected data type and format; determinewhether the user has interacted with the detected input box based on auser gesture, wherein the user gesture includes interacting with aportion on a touch screen of the device in response to detecting aninput box displayed in a first view, determine the expected data typeand format of input data for the input box; analyze data displayed in asecond view, to identify data matching the expected data type and formatof input data for the input box in the first view, wherein the secondview is displayed subsequent to the first view wherein analyzing thedata displayed in a second view is triggered by a predefined usergesture that comprises a touch and hold gesture and a tap gesture on thetouch screen, and in response to identifying data in the second viewmatching the expected data type and format of input data for the inputbox in the first view, automatically select the identified data forcopying from the second view to the input box in the first view as partof a copy and paste operation of the device.
 11. The device of claim 10,wherein the processor is configured to determine the expected data typeand format of input data for the input box by analyzing the codeassociated with the input box in the first view to identify element datafor the input data.
 12. The device of claim 11, wherein the element datacomprises one or more predefined attributes, parameters, values,requirements and restrictions for the input data.
 13. The device ofclaim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to: generate anidentifier for the input box, and store the identifier together with theexpected type and format of input data for the input box in cachememory.
 14. The device of claim 10, wherein, in response to determiningthe expected data type and format of input data for the input box, theprocessor is further configured to: detect user input for initiating aselection function for selecting data for the copy and paste operation,the user input indicating a location in the second view, wherein theprocessor is configured to analyze displayed data in the second view, toidentify data matching the expected data type and format of input datafor the input box, in response to detecting the user input forinitiating the selection function of the device.
 15. The device of claim14, wherein the processor is configured to analyze displayed data in thesecond view, to identify data matching the expected data type and formatof input data for the input box, by comparing default data selected bythe selection function based on the indicated location in the secondview with the expected data type and format of input data for the inputbox of the first view.
 16. The device of claim 15, wherein, if thedefault data selected by the selection function based on the indicatedlocation in the second view does not match the expected data type andformat of input data for the input box of the first view, the processoris further configured to: analyze data displayed in the second view inthe vicinity of the location of the default data selected by the copyfunction to identify data matching the expected data type and format ofinput data for the input box in the first view, wherein analyzing datadisplayed in the second view in the vicinity of the location includesidentifying matching characters preceding and following the selectionand identifying a predefined amount of data surrounding the selection,and if data matching the expected data type and format is identified,automatically select the identified data instead of the default data forcopying from the second view to the input box in the first view as partof the copy and paste operation of the device.
 17. The device of claim10, wherein the processor is configured to automatically select theidentified data by highlighting the selected data in the second view onthe display of the device, wherein the processor is further configuredto: monitor user navigation back to the input box in first view, and inresponse to user navigation back to the input box in the first view,determining whether a paste command is detected to paste the highlighteddata into the input box of the first view.
 18. The device of claim 10,wherein the processor is configured to analyze displayed data in thesecond view, to identify data matching the expected data type and formatof input data for the input box, in response to the user navigating tothe second view within a predefined interval after the navigating awayfrom the first view.
 19. A computer program product comprising acomputer readable storage medium having program instructions embodiedtherewith, wherein the program instructions are executable by aprocessor to cause the processor to: monitor, on a display of a device,user navigation of views to detect an input box to receive input data ofan expected data type and format; determine whether the user hasinteracted with the detected input box based on a user gesture, whereinthe user gesture includes interacting with a portion on a touch screenof the device in response to detecting an input box displayed in a firstview, determine the expected data type and format of input data for theinput box; analyze data displayed in a second view, to identify datamatching the expected data type and format of input data for the inputbox in the first view, wherein the second view is displayed subsequentto the first view, and in response to identifying data in the secondview matching the expected data type and format of input data for theinput box in the first view, automatically select the identified datafor copying from the second view to the input box in the first view aspart of a copy and paste operation of the device.
 20. The computerprogram product of claim 19, wherein the program instructions arefurther configured to: generate an identifier for the input box, andstore the identifier together with the expected type and format of inputdata for the input box in cache memory.